“Food. I’ve been studying all night—”
“You study in the summer?”
“Yes. I take high school prep classes. I’m going to be a doctor someday. A surgeon. That takes years of school and training so I’m trying to get ahead.”
“Oh. Cool.”
“So, I was studying, and it made me hungrier than I realized. It’s not much. Just chips and salsa and soda. Plus, birthday cake. Not exactly Health Food Weekly’s snacks of choice…”
Miller said nothing, and I sensed that he was too smart to fall for my thinly disguised charity. His hunger must’ve overcome his pride, though, because he didn’t argue but let me set up our small picnic on the floor, shielded by the bed should a parental unit walk in.
I sat against the wall while Miller sat perpendicular to me, against my bed, his long legs in front of him. I laid out the food, and we ate and talked about some of the kids at school he’d meet.
“The captain of the youth football team is the quarterback, River Whitmore,” I said and immediately wished I hadn’t made him my opener. My face flushed red. “Do you play football?”
“No.”
“Um, yeah, so he’s the quarterback.”
“You said that already.” Miller’s sharp gaze slid to me then away. “You like him.”
“What?” I practically shrieked, then lowered my voice. “No, I… Why do you think that?”
“Because of how you said his name. And your face got all red. Is he your boyfriend?”
“Hardly. I mean, look at me.”
“I am looking at you.”
And he did. His topaz eyes were on me, not just observing but seeing me. I felt as if the deepest secrets of my heart were painted all over my face. Warmth swept over my skin and I had to look away.
“You know how it is,” I said. “I’m a geek, and he’s a football god. He doesn’t know I exist. But we’ve been in school together since kindergarten and I… I don’t know. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a crush on him.” I smacked both hands to my cheeks. “I can’t believe I just told you all that. Please do not tell anyone when school starts. I’ll be mortified.”
Miller looked away, reached for his soda. “I’ll forget you even mentioned it.”
“Right, so…anyway, you’ll also meet Shiloh. She’s super smart and sarcastic. And beautiful, too. She looks a lot like Zoë Kravitz. She’s my best friend. My only friend.”
“I got none. You’re doing all right.”
“Yeah, but you just moved here. I’ve lived here my whole life.” I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “But you and me—we’re friends now, right? Let’s exchange phone numbers! So we can text.” I grabbed mine from off the bed. “Holy crap, it’ll be so cool to get a text and not automatically know it’s Shiloh.”
“I don’t have a cell phone,” Miller said, brushing his hands off on his torn jeans, not looking at me.
“Oh. Wait, really?” I let my phone drop in my lap. “How do you survive?”
“If you have to live without something, you just do.”
“I can’t imagine it.”
He scowled. “I’ll bet.”
“Hey…”
“Well? Didn’t you just say you couldn’t imagine it?”
“Yes, but that’s not fair to—”
/> “Fair?” Miller scoffed. “You have no idea about fair.”